Electric sign.



PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. W. B. GARRETT. I ELECTRIC SIGN., APPLICATION/FILED MAY 28, 1906.

' zsHEETs-SHBT 1.

No. 849,226. f n

in I I I] PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. 4 W. B. CARRETT.

ELECTRIC SICNI APPLICATION II-LED MAY 28, 190B.

2 SHEBTS*SHBET 2.

UNITE STATES PATENT @FFIEO l WILLIAM R. GARRETT," OF ASHTON, ILLINOIS, AssIeNOR or ONE-HALF To FRANcIs- E. DREssER AND vANDREW R. ELMER, or ROCHELLE,

ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BROWN GAR- RETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashton, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in -Electric Signs, of which the fol owing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct an electric sign composed of incandescent lamps ar'ranged'in certain order and in which the current-switching mechanism is arranged in like order, so that by the employment of movable contact-points, being a part of the switching mechanism, the letters or words to be displayed can be outlined on the switching mechanism. n

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face representation of my improved sign; Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the sign and an inner face view of the stationary section of the circuit-closing mechanism and in which the wires connecting the sign and section are shown. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the sign and circuit closing mechanism. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the movable section of the current-closing mechanism. Fig. 5 is an outstretched view of the movable section of the circuit-closing mechanism, showing its outer face.

The sign proper consists of the frame l, within or inconnection with which are arranged in this instance five series or. rows of incandescent electric lamps 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which are nestled closely together' -and the lam s of one series located midway between the am s of the next series in order that the direct lines of the lamps be diagonal to the length of the sign as distinguished from those arranged in lines at right angles thereto.

All of the lamps on the back ofthe frame are electrically connected to the main return or common wire 7, which has a connection with the generator 8 in the usual manner. At Fig. 2 I have shown the individual wiring for each lamp; but as it would confuse the drawings to give a reference-numeral to each wire I will number the wires for the lamps indicating the letter capital A, and the lamps for outlining the letters are marked 9 to 19, inclusive, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2..

The individual wires for the lam s 9 to 19, inclusive, are marked 20` to 30, inc usivel and respectively. The electric switching mechanism in this instance comprises a rotatable Specicaton of Letters Patent. Application led May 28, 1906. Serial No. 319,210.

ELECTRIC SHGNn Patented Apr-11 2, i907.

metallic drum '53, provided with holes arranged in its surface corresponding in number and arrangement with the lamps of the frame. This drum in this instance has a double set of holes, each corresponding in number and arrangement with the lamps of the frame g but as it is a duplication a descri tion of the arrangement for indicating the etter A of the sign proper will sullicc. The holes are arranged in lengthwise series 31, 23, 39, 24, and 35, corresponding to the rows 2 to 6 of the lamps,'and the series of holes of a row are arranged in the same offset relation as the lamps. In some of the holes are arranged the pins 36, 37, 33, 39, 40, 41,-

42, 43, 44, 45, and 46, as shown at Figl 5,

which correspond with the lamps 9 to 19, in-

clusive and respectively.

At one end ,of the drumis locatedtwo insulating-strips 47 and 4S, leaving the metallic surfaces 49 and 59 exposed. A spring or contact-arm 65 bears, as shown in the drawings, against the metallic surfaces 49,

v and this arm is electrically connected to the generator S by the wire 51. .portion 52, a partvof thecurrent-switching A stationaryr mechanism, is lacated adjacent to the drum 53, havingits inner surface conforming to vthe outer surface of the drum. rihis stationary portion 452, which is of insulating material, supports contact-plates arranged in rows and offset to correspond to the lamps in the frame, also with the holes in the drum. will only be necessary to indicate such plates requircdto indicate the letter A, such plates beingmarked 54, 55, 56, 57, 5S, 59,

60, 6l., 62, 63, and 64, as shown at Fig. 2, which corresponds with the lamps 9 to 19, inclusive and respectively.

The wires 20 to 30, inclusive, connect with the contact-plates 54 to 64, inclusive and respectively, as shown at Fig. 2, so that each of the several lamps indicating the letter A Vijs electrically connected with its corresponding contact-plate, which can readily be located at Fig. 2 of the drawings. The drum `53 is located with relation to thc stationary portion 52 of the current-switching mechanism, so that the pins 36 to 46, inclusive, will rest in contact with the plates 54 to 64, inclusive and respectively-that is, the arrangement of the contact-plates andv the holes in One-half of the drum are the 'same as the arrangement of lamps, so that if pins IOO n aliases were placed in all the holes of the half olz the drunf and they rested in contact with their respective plates and the arm being in contact with the projection 49 all ol kthe lamps on the frame would be in electric circuit with the generator and would be'lighted, so far as described, only the pins, plates, and lainpsforthe letter A will be included in the electric circuit. The object in arranging the holes in the same arrangement as the lamps is to enable any Vletter or word to be set up and properly outlined on the drum.

By providing the drum with a double ar-P rangement of holes two sections can be set up, and by intermittently revolving vthe drum the projection 5t) will be broughtin contact with the ar-m 65, thereby closing the circuit through'the drum, and its other` set of pins Will be brought in contact with the plates of the stationary ortion or such of them as is necessary to in icate the proper letter or sentence. By employingr the projections 49 and 50 and the insulating-strips 47 and 4S the circuit through the drum will be held open .until the drum has rotated sutliciently to place the pins in,4 contact with the proper plates, thereby illuminating thc letter, word, or sentence at a single flash. Another object in making the drum double is to enable one section to be set up while the other section is being flashed. It is evident that the drum may contain more than two sections or series of holes, which will enable a greater number of sentences to be flashed at a single revolution.

I have not deemed it necessary to show means for intermittently rotating the drum, as various devices can be employed. In the drawings I have shown five series oil` holes but seven or nine make a better arrangement, and any number of rows I desire to come within the scope ot my invention.

At Fig. 1 the shaded lamps outline the letters A, 13, and C, and Fig. 5 one set oi pins outline the `same letter and the other set outline theletters D, Ef and Ff It is to be understood that theframe containing the lamps can be lengthened to contain suilicient lamps to indicate the required sentence. It is also intended to make the drum and stationary portion 52 of smaller dimension than the sign, but having the arrangement of holes and plates corresponding to the arrangement of the lamps.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electric sign, comprising a plurality of incandescent lamps closely arranged in parallel rows, a pluralityv of contact niembers, individual circuit connections between 'and contact-points removably mounted in said seats and adapted to be brought into engagement with the contact members.

2. An electric sign, comprising a plurality of incandescent lamps closely arranged in parallel rows, a plurality of contact members, individual circuit connections between said lamps and members, a movable support pro- 'vided with a plurality of seats having the lamps and members, a movable support provided with a plurality of seats having the same relative arrangements as said lamps, contact-points removably mounted insaid seats and adapted to be'brought into engagement with the contact members, and means for completing the circuits through a group or groups of the lamps when the points and members are brought together. i

4. In an electric-display apparatus, a plurality of closelyarranged incandescent lamps, a plurality of contact members having the same relative arrangement as said lamps, individual circuit connections between saidl lamps and members, a movable support, and a plurality of seatable contact-points carried by said support and having the same relative .arrangement as said lamps and Contact members, substantially as described.

5. In an electric display apparatus, a plurality/ of closely-arranged incandescent lainps, a plurality of Contact members having the same relative arrangement as said lamps, individual circuit connections between said lamps and members, a movable support, a y lurality of seatable contact-points carried y said support and having the same relative arrangement as said lamps and Contact members, a source of electric supply, and a returncircuit common to all said contact-points.

6. An electric sign, comprising a plurality of incandescent lamps closely arranged in parallel rows, a curved support, a plurality of exposed contact members mounted on said support; individual circuit connections between said lamps and members, a rotatable drum disposed opposite and closely adjacent the concave tace of said curved support, said drum being provided with a plurality of seats having the same relative arrangement as the lamps and contact members, contact-points removably mounted in said seats, a source of electric supply, and a `return-circuit common to all said contact-points.

W'ILLIAM B. GARHETT.

"Witnesses:

N. A. Pirrnin, It. S. CHARTERS.

IOO

IIS 

